June 22, 2006
By Eric Fingerhut, with reports from Ron Kampeas of JTA News

Close to 100 activists from Brit Tzedek v’Shalom-The Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace came to Capitol Hill this week to urge their representatives and senators to advocate for a renewal of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Rabbi Binyamin Biber, of the D.C.-based Machar-Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism, was among seven activists who met with the staff of Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and among three who spoke to a staffer for Rep. Al Wynn (D-Md.). Bieber said Brit Tzedek does not support dealing with Hamas unless it were to recognize Israel. But it believes dealing with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is preferable to Israel's unilateral approach.

Biber said the group also was pushing specifically for passage of a Senate measure that would permit more humanitarian aid to the Palestinian areas, and a greater flexibility for the White House in dealing with the issue, than does House legislation on the subject.

The two-day Brit Tzedek event also included a Monday evening congressional reception with Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.).